Page 9 of Open Net

Kelly moved next to me. “Now open your legs a little wider.”

Emma shifted and nodded.

“Good. Now pull your shoulders back.” Emma sat up straight, wincing slightly. “Try to lift your stomach and rotate your hips in a circle.”

Without a word, Emma followed the instructions.

I watched for a few seconds before returning to the nurse. “What is this supposed to do?”

“Baby might not be positioned as well as we’d like. This may help coax baby into the best birth position.”

“And help her dilate?”

Kelly nodded with a big smile. “That’s the idea.”

I had a feeling she was starting to just say the things we wanted to hear, but she walked out before I could confront her.

“I feel ridiculous.” Emma’s posture was near perfect and I realized it had been several minutes since she had a contraction.

“Is it helping?”

She shrugged, then curled in on herself. “Oh.”

There it was. I moved to rub her shoulders while also keeping her steady on the ball. “Keep breathing, Emma.” She started doing the breathing we were taught in our birthing classes. “Good job.”

I felt my phone vibrate but didn’t want to grab it until this passed.

Her body relaxed under my hands and a few seconds later she was sitting back up doing her circles.

I pulled out my phone and laughed. “You have some visitors.”

She scrunched her nose. “I look awful.”

“Emma, you’ve never looked more beautiful.” It was true. Her make-up free face was glowing in a way unrelated to perspiration that I’d never seen before. Sure, she appeared tired, but I could feel her excitement and joy that the day was finally here to meet our baby.

“Thank you, babe. Go let them in.”

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

She put a hand on the bed rail. “I’m fine.”

I watched her for a moment before nodding. “Two seconds.”

I walked out of the room and hurried down the hall, where Chloe stood. “Chloe, you didn’t need to come. I told Erik I’d let you all know when things got closer.”

She waved me off. “My best friend is in labor, of course I’m here.”

I turned to Reese who shrugged. “You try talking her into staying home.”

I knew there was nothing that could change Chloe’s mind once it was made up. “Come on back.”

3

Emma

I broke my arm when I was thirteen. I thought that was pain. I was wrong.

“This is natural. This is normal.” I repeated those words silently to myself over and over again. “Women survive this every day.”